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New Idea of the Week
Tut tut, I got slack in my updating. This is because I am trying to rewrite the site to better improve the navigation, and introduce PHP functionality, whilst doing everything else in my life! There are several new interesting bites, and here are two new ideas/musings.
For an automatic windscreen wiper system you need a sensor that detects the visibility available through a part of the screen covered by the wiper. One method might be to have a system of IR transmitters and receivers and measure the reflectance back to the sensor. It obviously isn't possible to have any of the parts on the outside of the car windscreen. Another system might be to have a small staring array which allows you to measure the sharpness of the images it sees. The problem with this is that in a fog or mist, the wipers would start, and so would squeak annoyingly. Of course, no matter how smart your system is, it should still have a manual over-ride to prevent problems which cannot be solved. Try to think of how your eye and brain determines when the screen needs a wipe, and don't forget you still need to be able to squirt some washer fluid on there if it is mud, and not water. The processing load for the imaging system would be quite high, but the work could be done by the same PC you have installed to play your MP3's off. An old P200 would do a stirling job, I suspect, loaded with a copy of Linux and a music processor. A nice serial port connection would be fine for the controls of the player and the inputs for the wiper could be parallel port, or even a USB camera, depending on the exact system you opted for. Remember that the MP3 will need most of your processor power, and you don't want the wipers to interfere with your listening pleasure. You can probably get a 12volt supply from somewhere to prevent the need for an inverter, but don't forget the car battery has lots of electrical noise, and the actual voltage goes up as high as 14.4 volts due to the charging. You will also need a +5 volt supply, and a -5 and even a -12, depending on exactly what hardware you hang of your system, though scanners will be a luxury. A removable hard-disk would be very handy, however. The keyboard and a glidepad might be useful for doing work on, but where are you going to put a screen? Don't forget, it is illegal in the UK to have a screen where it may cause a distraction to the driver!
On a related note...
Why don't cars have mains inverters built in? I have a separate box, which plugs into the cigarette lighter, which then steps up the 12 volts to 240 volts. Obviously this can only be used for a relatively low powered device, such as a laptop, but with a current trip limited to 1A a built in system would be a big selling point. Let's face it, everyone has given up smoking, yet everyone I know still has one or more things in the cigarette lighter socket. Phone chargers are the most common, but spotlights, small torches, Radar detectors, even car alarms, all run from that single 12 volt supply. A modern car should have an inverter, as well as a pair of cigarette lighter sockets!
As you may be able to guess, I have been doing a lot of travelling this last few weeks. Fuel costs are killing me!
Ok, I looked it up. It was another LUF idea.
From last week
>Well, I don't know how long I will be able to keep the one a week idea up for, but... (8 weeks!)
Seems I am stumped... I have been running around a lot, what with the day job, and everything, and after sitting here for a good 30 seconds, I haven't come up with anything.. Still, since this happens to us all, how about some useful tips and tricks to get those creative juices flowing. Here is a good site for a few mental exercises, and another that was given to me on a management training course this week. Hey, here's an idea, why not print half the second site, and sell it to a big company, as if it was your own... Only problem is, I can't claim that one!
The worst thing is, I had an idea, but I forgot it. ALWAYS take some paper with you when thinking, or running, or whatever. If you have the money, take a Psion Series 5 with you, since that will let you type, write, record voice or draw anything instantly!
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